Reciprocating cutter assembly



April 19, 1955 w. w. PORTER 2,706,374

RECIPROCATING CUTTER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Nov. 17, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet l E7 g-Z 2 I37 :2 63 57 68 7/ H 1 2 a JN ENTURWELLlNE'I'DNWPURTER A 'TT URNE Y United States Patent RECIPROCATINGCUTTER ASSEMBLY Wellington W. Porter, Waterloo, N. Y.

Original application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,454, now PatentNo. 2,614,379, dated October 21, 1952. Divided and this application July8, 1952, Serial No. 297,613

3 Claims. (Cl. 56-296) This invention relates to harvesters, and morepartrcularly to a cutter mechanism adapted for close to ground cuttingof spinach and the like.

Cutters employed in conjunction with harvesters are generally adaptedfor cutting more than an inch above the ground. For short leaf crops,such as spinach, cutting at such a height leaves a substantial portionon the ground uncut.

The present invention is directed toward a cutter construction adaptedto cut as close as /8 above the ground, the construction being such asto avoid fouling in dirt. The construction employs stationary cutters ofa streamline shape with flat ground-engaging faces adapted to ride alongupon the ground. Save for the thickness of a stationary cutter bar, andthe fore and aft extending stationary cutter elements, specially adaptedto sink lightly into and ride on the ground, no obstruction to the freepassage of dirt over or under the cutter is present.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understoodthat the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and arenot designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a top fragmentary plan view of the cutter bar assembly withparts broken away and in section, illustrating its association with theframe gathering ramp;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the left hand supporttaken substantially 0n the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the cutting barassembly with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 55of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational viegv taken fromthe plane indicated at 6-6 of Figure 3; an

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the cutter taken fromthe plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure l.

The present invention is disclosed in my copending application SerialNo. 786,454, filed November 17, 1947, now Patent No. 2,614,379 and is adivision thereof, the cutter bar being a feature of the harvester thereshown. Such harvester provides a warpable ramp extending from a rearframe to a universally mounted forward cutter bar support whichstructure is adapted to permit the cutter bar to ride at all times asclose as possible to the ground and to accommodate itself toirregularities. The bar may lift at one end or the other to accommodatehigh spots without lifting the entire bar. Thus irregularities at oneend do not disturb the close cutting at the other. Since spinach isgrown in sandy, relatively level soil, such universal mounting of thecutter bar permits it to accommodate itself to the slight inclinesencountered and allows cutting close to the ground along its entirelength.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown upright frame members 10 and 12,which are universally supported by links forward of the carriage proper,as is disclosed in the aforementioned application. One such link,universally "ice connected as at 11 to member 12 is shown at 13. Suchframe members extend upwardly from shoes 14 and 16 at opposite ends, theshoes being joined by a long stationary cutter support bar 18. Thevarious parts, including the bar 18, shoes 14 and 16, and members 10 and12, may be suitably welded together as may be desired.

The bar 18 has secured to it, on the under side, a plurality ofstationary cutter shoe elements 20, each of which is bolted to the bar18 at two points as at 22 and 24, to secure each element in place atright angles to the bar 18. Each of the cutter elements has a rear shankportion 26 of uniform rectangular cross section, and a forward pointedportion 28 of increased vertical thickness, the top surface 30 of whichforward portion is flat. The cutter elements may be referred to ashaving blocked out portions to form the shank portions 26. The bar 18 isprovided with an offset step 32 along its forward edge, the uppersurface 34 of which is coplanar with the surfaces 30 of the cutterelements 20. The forward portion of said cutter elements, however, isspaced from the forward edge of the bar 18, to provide a rectangularchannel or guide way 35 to receive a reciprocating cutter bar 36. Thecutter or blade bar 36 is provided with a plurality of like bladeelements 38 riveted thereto, the inclined forward edges 40 of whichcooperate with the cutting edges 42 of the flat surfaces 30 of theelements 20 to form a multiple shear. The heel portion 44 of each of thecutter blade elements rides on the offset surface 34, it beingunderstood that the cutter bar 36 is rapidly reciprocated with thecutter elements 38 across the stationary cutter elements 20, by theusual crank (not shown) acting through the pitman 46 and a swivel joint48 to the connecting arm 50 secured to the cutter elements 38.

The stationary cutter elements, each secured by two bolts 22 and 24, asdescribed, are rigidly and individually held, independent of oneanother, and at right angles to the cutter bar 18. Such elements have afiat groundengaging surface 52 extending over the major part of theirlength, and are adapted to ride on the ground surface, lightly embeddedto the extent of the thickness of the shank portion 26.

Adjacent pairs of bolts 24 are utilized to secure cutter blade fingermembers 54 in place with the forward extending blade-engaging fingers insliding engagement with the upper surface 56 of every fourth blade, oroftener, if desired. Such fingers exert due pressure on the cutterblades to assure proper cutting action between the blades 38 andelements 20.

The forward end of the cutter elements are preferably hardened toRockwell C, while the shank portion is hardened to a lesser amount toassure good wear characteristics and toughness.

The cutter assembly precedes a ramp 57 composed of slats 58 looselymounted on a support rod 60 extending from brackets 62 and 64 projectingrearwardly from columns 10 and 12. Suitable means not shown herein areadapted to move cuttings up the ramp. In order to bridge the gap betweenthe bar 18 and the ramp 57, there is secured along the rear edge underthe bolts 22 a grate or grid formed of a transverse member 66 to whichare secured as by welding, a plurality of bars or rails 68, inclinedupwardly toward the ramp 57.

It will be seen that the sole obstruction of the cutting assembly inmoving over the ground is constituted by the thickness of the bar 18,which in practice need not exceed a half inch. The blades 38 and bar 36lie within planes projected forward from the top and bottom surfaces ofthe bar 18. In practice, the column members may be tilted forwardlyslightly to cause the tips of the cutter blades of the cutter assemblyto cut as close as A3 from the ground, although a normal cut would bethe height of the cutting surface 30 above the under surface 70 of thebar 18, or about A, assuming the elements 20 sink slightly in the groundin traveling across the field. Any dirt, stones or o her matter ridingover the top of the blades may drop through the spaces between the grillbars 68. No obstruction to the forward movement of the cutter assemblyexists other than the bar 18, which is preceded by the reciprocating cuter blade assembly and the runner or ground-engaging surfaces of thecutter elements.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will beapparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cutter assembly for spinach harvesters comprising a transverse barof elongated rectangular section having an offset step extending thelength thereof in its forward edge and upper surface, a plurality ofcutter shoe elements, each of said elements being of substantiallyuniform width throughout their length, and of substantially rectangularsection with the top surface thereof being pointed at the forward end toform a cutting surface and being blocked out to form a shank over therear half thereof to a depth equal to the thickness of the forward edgeof said bar below said step, said cutter shoe elements having theirshanks secured to the under face of said bar in uniformly spacedrelation by fastening means spaced transversely across said bar andlengthwise of said shanks, and with the blocked out portion extendingforwardly of the forward stepped edge of said bar to provide a guideway, said cutting surfaces being coplanar with the offset step, a bladebar mounted for reciprocation along said transverse bar and lying abovethe forward portion of said shanks and forward of said edge and withinthe guide way, and below said cutting surfaces, a plurality of cutterblades secured to said blade bar having forwardly extending cutterportions slidably disposed on said cutting surfaces and coactingtherewith and having a heel portion extending rearwardly of said bladebar and slidably disposed on said step, said cutter blades extendingforwardly to the pointed ends of said cutter elements, means forreciprocating said blade bar, and means carried by the transverse bar atspaced intervals and bearing on a plurality of cutting blades formaintaining said cutting blades in cutting engagement with said cuttingsurfaces.

2. A cutter assembly for spinach harvesters comprising a transverse barof elongated rectangular section having an offset step extending thelength thereof, in its forward edge and upper surface, a plurality ofcutter shoe elements, each of said elements being of substantiallyuniform width throughout their length, and of substantially rectangularsection with the top surface thereof being pointed at the forward end toform a cutting surface and being blocked out to form a shank over therear half thereof to a depth equal to the thickness of the forward edgeof said bar below said step, said cutter shoe elements having theirshanks secured to the under face of said bar in uniformly spacedrelation by forward and rearward threadedfastening means spacedtransversely across said bar and lengthwise of said shanks, and with theblocked out portion extending forwardly of the forward stepped edge ofsaid bar to provide a guide way, said cutting surfaces being coplanarwith the offset step, a blade bar mounted for reciprocation along saidtransverse bar and lying above the forward portion of said shanks andforward of said edge and within the guide way, and below said cuttingsurfaces, a plurality of cutter blades secured to said blade bar havingforwardly extending cutter portions slidably disposed on said cuttingsurfaces and coacting therewith and having a heel portion extendingrearwardly of said blade bar and slidably disposed on said step, saidcutter blades extending forwardly to the pointed ends of said cutterelements, means for reciprocating said blade bar, resilient fingersafiixed to the top side of the transverse bar and bearing on a pluralityof cutting blades for maintaining said cutting blades in cuttingengagement with said cutting surfaces, said fingers being secured to thetransverse bar by certain of said forward threaded fastening means.

3. A cutter assembly for spinach harvesters comprising a transverse barof elongated rectangular section having an offset step extending thelength thereof in its forward edge and upper surface, a plurality ofcutter shoe elements, each of said elements being of substantiallyuniform width throughout their length, and of substantially rectangularsection with the top surface thereof being pointed at the forward end toform a cutting surface and being blocked out to form a shank over therear half thereof to a depth equal to the thickness of the forward edgeof said bar below said step, said cutter shoe elements having theirshanks secured to the under face of said bar in uniformly spacedrelation by forward and rearward threaded fastening means spacedtransversely across said bar and lengthwise of said shanks, and with theblocked out portion extending forwardly of the forward stepped edge ofsaid bar to provide a guide way, said cutting surfaces being coplanarwith the offset step, ablade bar mounted for reciprocation along saidtransverse bar and lying above the forward portion of said shanks andforward of said edge and within the guide way and below said cuttingsurfaces, a plurality of cutter blades secured to said blade bar havingforwardly extending cutter portions slidably disposed on said cuttingsurfaces and coacting therewith and having a heel portion extendingrearwardly of said blade bar and slidably disposed on said step, saidcutter blades extending forwardly to the pointed ends of said cutterelements, means for reciprocating said blade bar, resilient fingersaffixed to the top side of the transverse bar and bearing on a pluralityof cutting blades for maintaining said cutting blades in cuttingengagement with said cutting surfaces, said fingers being secured to thetransverse bar by certain of said forward threaded fastening means, anda grid comprising a plurality of spaced parallel rearwardly extendingrails afiixed to the top side of the transverse bar, said grid beingsecured to the bar by the rearward threaded fastening means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15,205Wagner June 24, 1850 93,448 Johnson Aug. 10, 1869 173,851 Freeman Feb.22, 1876 212,637 Weaver Feb. 25, 1879 282,749 Miller Aug. 7, 1883338,479 Campbell et a1. Mar. 23, 1886 572,728 Shepherd Dec. 8, 1896594,021 Kane Nov. 23, 1897 678,766 Robbin July 16, 1901 771,101 SilorSept. 27, 1904 856,269 Latirner June 11, 1907 1,543,472 Denton June 23,1925 2,511,841 Gaterman June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,906 GermanyOct. 7, 1914

